Instructional use of teacher gestures – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and D are correct, whereas C is incorrect. A is true because gestures that outline steps or shapes can visually reinforce the structure of a concept. B is true since restless movements that lack purpose may draw attention away from the content. D is true as what counts as polite, emphatic or rude gesture varies across cultures, so teachers must be sensitive to norms. C is false because appropriate, purposeful gestures usually support rather than hinder understanding.

Option A:
Option A includes A and B only and omits D, missing the important point that cultural context affects how gestures are interpreted. Although it recognises the instructional and distracting roles of gestures, its omission makes the option incomplete. Therefore A and B only cannot be accepted.

Option B:
Option B lists B and D only and leaves out A, failing to acknowledge that illustrative gestures can help students grasp conceptual structure. While B and D are correct, ignoring A makes the portrayal of instructional gestures limited. Hence B and D only is not the correct answer.

Option C:
Option C correctly groups A, B and D, capturing beneficial, potentially distracting and culturally conditioned aspects of gesturing while excluding C. It rejects the blanket claim that gestures should be avoided, which contradicts effective communication practice. Because it includes all and only the true statements, A, B and D only is the right answer.

Option D:
Option D treats all four statements as correct, including C, which wrongly asserts that gestures inherently confuse learners. Adding this false statement to the combination makes it logically inconsistent. Consequently A, B, C and D cannot be chosen.